Venues for Analytical Reasoning Problems: How Children Produce Deductive Reasoning

The research on deductive reasoning in mathematics education has been predominantly associated with the study of proof; consequently, there is a lack of studies on logical reasoning per se, especially with young children. Analytical reasoning problems are adequate tasks to engage the solver in deduc...

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Main Authors: Susana Carreira, Nélia Amado, Hélia Jacinto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-06-01
Series:Education Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/10/6/169
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spelling doaj-e43b6089b6114744a3efee194a9b7b0d2020-11-25T01:20:26ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022020-06-011016916910.3390/educsci10060169Venues for Analytical Reasoning Problems: How Children Produce Deductive ReasoningSusana Carreira0Nélia Amado1Hélia Jacinto2Institute of Education, University of Algarve and UIDEF, 8005-139 Faro, PortugalInstitute of Education, University of Algarve and UIDEF, 8005-139 Faro, PortugalInstitute of Education, University of Lisbon, 1649-103 Lisboa, PortugalThe research on deductive reasoning in mathematics education has been predominantly associated with the study of proof; consequently, there is a lack of studies on logical reasoning per se, especially with young children. Analytical reasoning problems are adequate tasks to engage the solver in deductive reasoning, as they require rule checking and option elimination, for which chains of inferences based on premises and rules are accomplished. Focusing on the solutions of children aged 10–12 to an analytical reasoning problem proposed in two separate settings—a web-based problem-solving competition and mathematics classes—this study aims to find out what forms of deductive reasoning they undertake and how they express that reasoning. This was done through a qualitative content analysis encompassing 384 solutions by children participating in a beyond-school competition and 102 solutions given by students in their mathematics classes. The results showed that four different types of deductive reasoning models were produced in the two venues. Moreover, several representational resources were found in the children’s solutions. Overall, it may be concluded that moderately complex analytical reasoning tasks can be taken into regular mathematics classes to support and nurture young children’s diverse deductive reasoning models.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/10/6/169deductive reasoninganalytical reasoning problemreasoning modelsyoung studentsexpression of reasoningbeyond-school mathematics competition
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Susana Carreira
Nélia Amado
Hélia Jacinto
spellingShingle Susana Carreira
Nélia Amado
Hélia Jacinto
Venues for Analytical Reasoning Problems: How Children Produce Deductive Reasoning
Education Sciences
deductive reasoning
analytical reasoning problem
reasoning models
young students
expression of reasoning
beyond-school mathematics competition
author_facet Susana Carreira
Nélia Amado
Hélia Jacinto
author_sort Susana Carreira
title Venues for Analytical Reasoning Problems: How Children Produce Deductive Reasoning
title_short Venues for Analytical Reasoning Problems: How Children Produce Deductive Reasoning
title_full Venues for Analytical Reasoning Problems: How Children Produce Deductive Reasoning
title_fullStr Venues for Analytical Reasoning Problems: How Children Produce Deductive Reasoning
title_full_unstemmed Venues for Analytical Reasoning Problems: How Children Produce Deductive Reasoning
title_sort venues for analytical reasoning problems: how children produce deductive reasoning
publisher MDPI AG
series Education Sciences
issn 2227-7102
publishDate 2020-06-01
description The research on deductive reasoning in mathematics education has been predominantly associated with the study of proof; consequently, there is a lack of studies on logical reasoning per se, especially with young children. Analytical reasoning problems are adequate tasks to engage the solver in deductive reasoning, as they require rule checking and option elimination, for which chains of inferences based on premises and rules are accomplished. Focusing on the solutions of children aged 10–12 to an analytical reasoning problem proposed in two separate settings—a web-based problem-solving competition and mathematics classes—this study aims to find out what forms of deductive reasoning they undertake and how they express that reasoning. This was done through a qualitative content analysis encompassing 384 solutions by children participating in a beyond-school competition and 102 solutions given by students in their mathematics classes. The results showed that four different types of deductive reasoning models were produced in the two venues. Moreover, several representational resources were found in the children’s solutions. Overall, it may be concluded that moderately complex analytical reasoning tasks can be taken into regular mathematics classes to support and nurture young children’s diverse deductive reasoning models.
topic deductive reasoning
analytical reasoning problem
reasoning models
young students
expression of reasoning
beyond-school mathematics competition
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/10/6/169
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